Good Sounds-Listen to the Burmester 909 MK5 post stage

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Good Sounds-Listen to the Burmester 909 MK5 post stage

(Pictures and texts compiled from the Internet)
In the afternoon, I made an appointment to listen to Burmester 909 MK5. I kept thinking about how Burmester would be with Sonus Faber on the road. Germans design audio, focusing on performance and rationality, while Italians make audio, which is more romantic than good sound. Burmester and Sonus Faber put together, It may be a fusion of rationality and sensibility, or it may conflict with each other. Of course, these are all imaginations of audio matching. You will find out once you actually listening to it.

Fate with equipment
Since writing audio reviews, I have a deep affinity with some equipment. I often listen to certain brands of products. After I write about it, I don’t know what to write. However, some equipment has a very shallow relationship. There are not many opportunities to contact Burmester. Burmester is of a relatively shallow type. Only 032, 956 MK II and 948 have ever moved home and listened carefully. I remember when I wrote 032, I was a rookie commentator when I received an expensive integrated amplifier to write a comment. I was very nervous, but I was too nervous, and I couldn’t get it right at home. Finally I moved back to the agency and invited them match 032 with a full set of Burmester, and only start writing when you hear a good voice. After that, it seems that there is no chance to invite Burmester home again. I have only listened to their speakers in the agents or distributors' premises.  I don’t know why I listen to Burmester so little, I can only explain is that everything is fate.

Burmester's formula for success
Although the relationship is shallow, Burmester's voice is unforgettable! Many people see Buremster’s first impression of its impeccable appearance. Indeed, from design to manufacturing, this German manufacturer advertises authentic German products, not only “Made in Germany”, but also shouting “Made by Burmester”. Burmester's products have to go through 300 quality control procedures before they can be packaged and shipped. The degree of rigor can be imagined.

This rigorous attitude is related to the founder, Dieter Burmester, who founded Burmester in 1977. Before that, Direter himself was a "semi-professional" guitarist, performing with orchestras everywhere, and his specialty was electronic medical equipment.

Because of the music band, Dieter has a high level of requirements for music reproduction, and because of the design of medical testing equipment, Dieter has developed a meticulous and rigorous habit. Combining these two characteristics has become Burmester's basic design principles. Audio equipment is required not only to reproduce the objective conditions of music, but also to satisfy the emotional touch of listening.

The objective conditions depend on Dieter's expertise in developing medical testing equipment, rigorously repeatedly testing and inspecting Burmester's equipment, while listening part is adjust by Dieter's sensitivity to music. The combination of the two is Burmester's success equation.

Rough and meticulous
The protagonist of this audition is the 909 MK5 rear stage. The appearance is absolutely unforgettable at a glance. The huge body proves that the so-called "powerful hi-fi always look massive" is not only huge, but weighs up to 80 kg.

Place the 909 MK5 in the center of the listening room. If you want to take a picture, you have to turn left and right to avoid the speakers. I wondered how Haishan moved the 80 kg 909 MK5 to its current location. Sure enough, the opening of the "The Absolute Sound" said that if you want to listen to Hi End, you should first improve your strength. Without Strength, how to move this 80 kilogram beast.

The 909 MK5 inherits the essence of Burmester's appearance design. The beautiful chrome-plated panel can monitor people, and the surrounding is covered with beautiful aluminum heat sinks. Although it is an exposed heat sink design, Burmester can make a unique Aesthetics, without the clamor of teeth and claws, but the towering heat sink still shows the beauty of machining.

The design combines the two conflicting qualities of ruggedness and meticulousness, showing that the 909 MK5 is like an emperor. In addition, Burmester's chrome-plated panels can be said to be a common element of their equipment. The same is a chrome-plated panel. The quality of Burmester is superior.

I haven’t seen anyone more beautiful than them. The reason why Burmester chooses chrome-plated panels is not only for the beauty of the design, but also emphasizes the durability of chrome-plated panels. The surface brightness can be maintained for a very, very long time, just like Burmester’s. Like the stereo, you can enjoy music at ease for a very, very long time when you buy it back.

Worth 2.2 million (Taiwan Dollar)
The 909 MK5 is worth as much as 2.2 million. This is Burmester's flagship rear class. It is expensive, but Burmester is expensive for a reason. Many people think that the latter stage is just a combination of many electronic parts. Why so expensive?

For Burmester, "Made in Germany" itself means that wages are expensive. When the Japanese tsunami caused a nuclear disaster, Germany took the lead in shouting the slogan of "Non-Nuclear Homeland". The Green Party's victory in the election meant that energy was imminent. Increase the price. Now we think the 909 MK5 is very expensive, but we can also predict that Burmester will be even more expensive in a few years, because not only the salary is expensive, but their energy is more expensive than other European countries that use nuclear energy.

If you are looking for a top-notch "Indestructible" and the 909 MK5 is also one of the options you consider, you may want to think about whether you should start quickly, or else the price will increase again in the next year.

Rigorous production management in Germany
Speaking of expensive wages and expensive energy, it may not be possible to completely rationalize the reason why Burmester is expensive, because there are still many authentic German products on the market, and the price is much cheaper than Burmester. In fact, another important reason why Burmester is expensive is to give the product the connotation of "durable goods".

What is "durable goods"? It is something that can be used for a long time after a single cost. The house is the most typical durable property. It can not only be used for a long time, but also has the concept of value-added. Compared with the house, the audio is difficult to increase in value, and it is even difficult to maintain value.

How do they strengthen the connotation of "durable goods"? Excellent quality and rigorous production are the slogans that every manufacturer will shout. Of course Burmester will say the same, but they have objective conditions to ensure product life. Since Dieter founded the company in 1977, all Burmester products have been very detailed files.

After their parts are sent to the factory, they perform 100% inspection first, and every part installed on the Burmester equipment has a record, so if the equipment fails after many years of use, the German original factory can find the value of the original part. Replace the correct parts to ensure that the equipment is like "day one" condition. 

Dieter does have a foresight. He knew rigorous production management back then. This may be a habit he developed in the design of medical equipment, but this "time-consuming and labor-intensive" production management is the key to Burmester's longevity.

With the Playback MPD-5 digital signal source, for good sound, even the machine has a special shock absorber pad. Audition on site, I'm sorry to ask them to dismantle the rear stage. With such an expensive rear stage, coupled with a delicate metal box, disassembly and assembly of the machine is a risk, so just let it go. But I came back to inquire about the 909 MK5 design. Frankly speaking, there is not much that can be written. The original factory has almost no information, and there are only a few "statements" besides the marketing copy.

But I think these outlines about the 909 MK5 are enough. After all, we choose top-notch audio equipment, not the number of parts, but the sound. How does Burmester describe his flagship 909 MK5?

Strict use of direct cross-connection, no capacitors that deteriorate the sound quality in the sound path, stable operation under any speaker impedance load, 20 selected paired power crystals for each channel, microcomputer control of error detection, and Burmester's own pre-amp can be used Remote control linkage.

Okay, that's all, the others are quoting media comments (of course good reviews). In fact, I still have a lot of questions in my mind, but I can't find the information, such as where is the improvement of MK5?

It has been 21 years since it was launched in 1990. During this period, 909 has undergone 5 changes. Why did it change? What is the difference after the change? I'm sorry, I don't have the information, maybe oneday I have the opportunity to meet the original factory in the future and ask for more details.

The chip used inside Burmester 077 shows that the original X-AMP module has evolved to the second-generation X-AMP 2. The front and back stages that are moved out are Burmester, and the front stage is matched with 077, which is an "upgrade" for this 077 front stage. Hey, why do you need to upgrade? It turned out to be a USB input function for this 077.

Friends who are familiar with Burmester must know that they are one of the first audio manufacturers to adopt modular design. The pre-stage audio control can also be installed before 909. These upgrades are all original modules to ensure the originality. , And 077’s “upgrade” is to change one of the original RCA inputs to USB inputs so that 077 can input digital signals, and this module is actually a USB DAC.

If this is the case, immediately take out the Mac to connect, this USB DAC is quite friendly to the Mac, and it works as soon as it is connected. This USB input is a small test, the effect is good, but I still have to listen to the CD, so I changed the source to Playback MPD-5.

DAC module is installed in the front stage of 077. Don't worry, it will not look like this after the completion. The R part will become a USB input, and the L part will have an additional set of S/PDIF coaxial digital inputs, which will become an uncompromising digital preamp.

Did not mention the speaker? I talked about it at the beginning, with Sonus Faber Stradivari. This Stradivari speaker has a beautiful body shape. Many people see the beautiful appearance. They think that the sound of this pair of speakers is also very slender and beautiful. This beauty is correct. Slenderness may not be necessary. It depends on the user's matching adjustment.

I remember when Stradivari first came out, I also wondered if Stradivari, which has a small cabinet, could show the aura of a flagship speaker. At that time, I was still working as a "Audio Cite" and ran to the "AV Galllery" on Changchun Road. I listened to it and matched three power amplifiers. Then I found that Stradivari is really good sound, but it is not that good. Generally, it is not difficult for Stradivari to emit fine sound quality with amplifiers, but if you want to be magnificent, you must have high-powered power amplifiers.

At that time, the most impressive combination in the audition was the Goldmund post-class, and the most value-for-money combination was Jeff Rowland, but although the ICE Power was powerful, the texture was a bit rough. How about using 909 MK5 to push Stradivari this time? I think this is the most powerful experience I have ever heard of Stardivari, and the sound quality is very delicate and gentle. This 909 MK5 is really not easy.

How did Burmester sound when he met Sonus Faber? It is difficult to say everything in one sentence, and listening to the full set of systems here also includes the taste of the host. The entire system that was renovated has a magnificent tolerance and a thick sound bottom, but it does not lose the elegance of high-frequency extension.

From Playback, 077 to 909 MK5, the cable uses a full set of MIT, and many small places are carefully fine-tuned, such as the tuning town on the MPD-5 and the suspension support of the cable detail. These small details show that it has been made for the 909 MK5. A lot of homework, in other words, it is really difficult for me to directly judge whether the sound is good from 909 MK5, MPD-5, 077 or Stradivari?

At the beginning, I played "Tchaikovsky: The Song of Andante", a version of Yo-Yo Ma and Martel. The cello's voice is very charming, thick and full, and it exudes the deep melancholy of Tchaikovsky's music. Emotions, Guan Yanqiang group lightly set off, the shape of the musical instrument in Haishan sounded quite large and real, listening to the cello flowed out quiet and distant notes, the reality was full of beauty.

Listening to that beautiful cello, I think Stradivari has done a lot. Sonus Faber’s strings are just as stunningly beautiful, but the thick, round, and mellow orchestra makes people think that it’s the 909 MK5. Is 909 MK5 good, or is it good with Stradivari? Listening to the indescribable "Song-like Andante", my mind of listening to the equipment is like being in the middle of the mist, I am confused.

Audiovisual human voice: amazing control
Try a different voice. Choose Belafonte's "Blues" in iTunes and play the familiar "Cotton Field". This is a classic blues recording. It is probably because Yo-Yo Ma was too beautiful in front of me. I forgot that the recording level of "Blues" is higher than classical music. Much, direct playback, the volume is much louder than expected, but the 909 MK5 showed a level beyond imagination.

The volume is loud, but the control of the 909 MK5 is really beyond imagination. Even if the sound pressure exceeds the space limit, it still maintains a good body proportion. Belafonte's singing is very charming. The singer's body image is larger than I expected, but it is still healthy and huge, and it feels closer to the singer.

The superb control of the 909 MK5 is also shown in the details that are not reluctant. Some parts of this recording are relatively heavy. If the volume is turned on too much, the treble will sometimes appear sharper and more prickly, but the 909 MK5 is well controlled. Some sharp parts still maintain a relaxed and warm atmosphere.

Although Belafonte accidentally turned the volume up too much, it brought out the benefits of the 909 MK5: this high-power, large-scale rear stage, the control is really amazing, and it can hardly be distorted under any circumstances.

A thick and sweet female voice performance
Listen to Belaonte thick and mellow, how about listening to female voices? Find Catherine Barto in iTunes. Barto’s "Grace" album. This collection of religious songs was very popular in the early years. The music is very well selected, Barto sings better, and I used the new Blu-Spec CD when I RIP.

In the beginning, Handel's "Rejoice Greatly" was selected from the divine comedy "Messiah", and the atmosphere was joyous. The thick sound of the 909 MK5 made the body of Barto's singing sound larger than the impression, but the voice body of the singer was Big, However, the voice body is large and the density is still great, as if Barto is standing in front of him and singing, the music has a strong sense of energy, but it does not sound pressure at all.

This "Rejoice Greatly" orchestration is light and elegant, the strings are soft and soft, and there is a harpsichord in the orchestra. The sound is not loud, but the sound is very clear. Listening here in the seamounts, the orchestra performs harmoniously, but the sense of hierarchy is still good. The string music was laid out one by one, and the harpsichord lightly showed a brisk rhythm, showing an infinite joyful atmosphere.

I chose another song Jessie. Norman’s "Brams Song Collection", I really like "Wie Melodien Zieht Es Mir", one of works 105, which should be called "Song-like melody" in Chinese. The proportion of 909 MK5 expressing the singing voice is really vivid. Barto sounds petite and lovely, Jessie. Norman looks larger and thicker, and German art songs have a lot of lip and teeth, but they sound very relaxed.

Compared to Handel’s drama, Brahms’s art song orchestration is simple, only piano and female voice, but the 909 MK5 beautifully presents the flow of music. Every time I listen to this record, I can hardly imagine playing the piano. It was Ballen Poin who accompanied Jessie so tenderly. Norman, and the 909 MK5's thick and sweet female voice performance is really mesmerizing.

Dynaudio test piece
Hearing this, the mellow sound quality of the 909 MK5 has been impressive. As I said before, it is actually difficult for me to listen to the whole system separately. This warm, natural and relaxing music performance is naturally the result of seamounts' skillful hands.

How to hear the power of 909 MK5? Here comes the main event, with the "Dynaudio Test Film", the first Limsky. Koshakov's "Dance of The Tumblers" is not only powerful, but RR's original recording is also very explosive. Although this song emphasizes bursting, the essence of the recording is very innocent. Without the addition of post-production, it not only tests the quality of the sound , Also tests the dynamic response and sense of speed.

909 MK5 pushes Stradivari's control is really good! From the beginning, the string group has grown stronger and stronger. The timpani kicked off the climax with a powerful blow, and the brass group was joined in lively. I have listened to Stradivari many times in the past. It is not difficult to launch a rich low frequency, but it needs to be controlled. Powerful low frequency is not easy, what kind of control is called good?

When listening to "Dance of The Trumblers", the timpani should be beaten vigorously and with a little end rhyme, but the end rhyme should not be loose and drag the tail. It should be properly put away, because the timpani player will use it moderately. Touch the rim of the drum with the palm of your hand to close the low-frequency tail, so the timpani must sound vigorous and the drum head must vibrate, and the details of the final drum sound must not be omitted. The details of the time show the value of the 909 MK5 flagship.

Mahler Symphony No. 2: Resurrection
The most difficult thing for the high-power post-stage is to be able to be able to perform arts and military skills. It is not difficult for high-power to launch a huge sound pressure, but the control and details are really difficult. The 909 MK5 is fierce and rude, and the momentum is like a rainbow, but in the grand scene, it can take care of many details, that is the real ability.

I took out Simon. Latour’s newly recorded "Mahler Symphony No. 2: Resurrection", his previous version with the Birmingham City Symphony Orchestra was already well received and popular. This time he performed with the Berliner Philharmoniker and even more of the previous work.

This is a super huge symphony. The first movement begins with a violent funeral march. The cello and double bass play a sorrowful and threatening melody. Many people focus on the violent bass melody lines, but this At that time, the violin was accompanied by a very fast and intense fine sound, following the first theme all the way, as if a lingering atmosphere of terror.

Listening to a large-scale compilation of music, the subtle parts between the parts can not be hidden, which means that the resolution of the sound system is super good. The 909 MK5 has such an ability. Listen to the "resurrection" conducted by Lato in Haishan, the violinist. The fine sound is small, but very clear, echoing with the powerful low-frequency melody of the cello, interweaving the heavy and violent atmosphere of the funeral march.

As the music goes down, what we are waiting for is the sound of the horn of salvation represented by Malena. The 909 MK5 is loud and loud and expresses the excitement of the copper tube, but the abundant sound thickness makes the copper tube loud but not exciting, as if the rescue is in the funeral The lost soul in the ranks.

Ugh! To broadcast this song "Resurrection" so real, presenting the momentum of a huge organization, and to bring the details of "Resurrection" so well, to integrate the whole into a flow of rich connotations? Where am I going to listen to such a great Mahler next time?

The road to sound is really endless
Regardless of its value, design, or content, the 909 MK5 is a post-class that pursues the ultimate in Infinity. It’s not fun enough to audition in Haishan for an afternoon. Such a real and musical sound system is not easy to encounter. .

I believe that the strength of the 909 MK5 plays a major role in this system, but I have heard both Stardivari and MPD-5 in different places, but it is difficult to hear those who are tuned so rich, thick, warm and real like Haishan. It is the result of Haishan's careful adjustment.

In the face of flagship power amplifiers like the 909 MK5, good materials or exquisite workmanship are natural. Many expensive power amplifiers can pay attention to this aspect, but they are thick and highly analytical, and can present a harmonious and harmonious music. Emotions may not be bought by money.

You will be as touched as I am. The records that are already familiar to you are so rich in vitality. The road to audio is really endless.